The Sunday News
Sunday News Reporter
A Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (COTTCO) accounts clerk is wanted for questioning by the police on allegations that he led the inciting of farmers to demonstrate against the company following the alleged nonpayment of cotton bales to the company.
COTTCO has previously promised to pay cotton farmers on time for their deliveries, as part of its new grower centric approach to business operations following a rebranding exercise designed to create value for the sector’s stakeholders.
However, farmers have continued to raise a red flag on the continued delays in payment after they made their respective deliveries.
In the latest development, Mr Witness Zvoushe, who is also a known MDC Alliance member in Gokwe North’s Chireya Constituency is said to have used his position to influence farmers to demonstrate against the company’s continued failure to pay them off after they supplied their yields to the company.
It is alleged that Mr Zvoushe was spoted taking part in the demonstrations at a time when he was expected to be siding with the cotton firm.
“Our investigations revealed that Zvoushe had been inciting the farmers to demonstrate against the company, the farmers came enquiring abaout their payment but we were surprised when the enquiry broke into a demonstration.
“During that demonstration property was broken and they also burnt some cotton bales. We have witnesses who can attest that Zvoushe was part of the demonstrations at a time when he was also a Cottco employee,” said a police source.
Investigations by this publication revealed that Zvoushe was a known MDC Alliance member who in 2013 and 2018 was very influential in the party’s campaigns within the Chireya Constituency.
However, his acquaintances revealed that despite the allegations of taking part in the demonstrations he had joined the strike only after panicking and wanting to protect himself from the marauding crowds.
“He only feared for his life and felt that he could blend in with the crowds to protect himself,” said his friend who declined to be named.
